小数
xiǎoshù
The English phrase "decimals" is translated into Chinese as 小数 (xiǎoshù).
The term refers to numbers that use a decimal point to represent a fraction of a whole. When discussing the decimal point itself in a formal context, you can use 小数点 (xiǎoshùdiǎn) or simply 点 (diǎn).
What does it mean word for word?
The term 小数 literally means "small number". It is composed of 小, meaning "small" and 数, meaning "number".
How do you pronounce it?
xiǎoshù
Did you know?
- In Chinese classrooms, students often refer to the decimal point as a 点 (diǎn), which is the same character used for 'dot' or 'spot' and is also the measure word for cigarettes.
- A very long decimal that repeats is called a 循环小数 (xún huán xiǎo shù), where 循环 means 'cycle' or 'loop'.
- When reading a decimal aloud, such as 3.14, the 点 (diǎn) is spoken exactly like the English 'point', but the numbers following it are always read individually rather than as a whole number.
Examples in context
- 零点一0.1
- 零点二五0.25
- 一点五1.5
- 二点三三2.33
- 三点九3.9
- 四点七五4.75
- 七点二7.2
- 九点九九9.99
- 十点五10.5
- 0.5 是一个小数。0.5 is a decimal.
- 这些数字里有小数。Zhèxiē shùzì lǐ yǒu xiǎoshù.There are decimals in these numbers.
- 计算时请注意小数。Jìsuàn shí qǐng zhùyì xiǎoshù.Please pay attention to the decimals when calculating.
- 我不太明白这些小数。Wǒ bù tài míngbái zhèxiē xiǎoshù.I don't quite understand these decimals.
Example conversation
Wei and Yuting are doing math homework together.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，这道题需要用小数吗？Yǔtíng, zhè dào tí xūyào yòng xiǎoshù ma?Yuting, do we need to use decimals for this problem?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，结果必须写成小数。Shì de, jiéguǒ bìxū xiěchéng xiǎoshù.Yes, the result must be written as a decimal.
- 伟 Wei好的，那我的计算结果是对的。Hǎo de, nà wǒ de jìsuàn jiéguǒ shì duì de.Okay, then my calculation result is correct.
- 雨婷 Yuting没错，伟，你算得很准。Méicuò, Wěi, nǐ suàn de hěn zhǔn.That's right, Wei, you calculated it very accurately.
